帰す・還す|かえすkaesu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
帰す帰す is the most common spelling for this meaning and is the form learners should normally choose when writing or looking up the word.
還す還す is a less common written variant of 帰す. You may encounter it, but choose 帰す as a beginner.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto send (someone) back; to send (someone) home
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 帰す（かえす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 帰します（かえします） |
| Negative (nai) | 帰さない（かえさない） |
| polite (masen) | 帰しません（かえしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 帰さず・帰さぬ（かえさず・かえさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 帰した（かえした） |
| polite (mashita) | 帰しました（かえしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 帰さなかった（かえさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 帰しませんでした（かえしませんでした） |
| Te form | 帰して（かえして） |
| Potential | 帰せる（かえせる） |
| Passive | 帰される（かえされる） |
| Causative | 帰させる（かえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 帰させられる（かえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 帰せば（かえせば） |
| tara | 帰したら（かえしたら） |
| Volitional | 帰そう（かえそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 帰しましょう（かえしましょう） |
| Imperative | 帰せ（かえせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
家に帰る
子供を帰す
帰る describes a person or thing going back to a place (as in 家に帰る), while 帰す means to send or allow someone to return (as in 子供を帰す).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related返すかえすNeutralMainly for returning things or turning them over, as in 「本を返す」; it can also send a person back, but for sending someone home or away, write 「帰す」.
- Related返還へんかんFormalA formal noun for returning something to its owner, as in 「領土返還」; mostly official or national-level usage, while 「帰す」 is about sending people back.
- Related戻すもどすNeutralMeans putting something back or restoring it to its former state, as in 「元に戻す」; it usually takes things or states as its object, while 「帰す」 takes people.
- Related返却へんきゃくNeutralA noun for giving back something borrowed or received, as in 「図書の返却」; its object is a thing, whereas 「帰す」 sends a person back.
- Antonym奪ううばうNeutralTakes someone's property by force, as in 「財布を奪う」; strictly the opposite of 「返す」 in its return sense, and opposite to 「帰す」 only in the give-back versus take-away sense.
Use 「帰す」 for sending a person home or back to their original place, as in 「子どもを家に帰す」. For returning things use 「返す」, for putting them back 「戻す」, and for formal returns 「返還」 or 「返却」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
